Itim
| Itim | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Mike de Leon |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography |
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| Edited by | Ike Jarlego Jr. |
| Music by | Max Jocson |
Production company | |
Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Language | Filipino |
Itim (Filipino: Black), released overseas as The Rites of May, is a 1976 Philippine supernatural horror film directed by Mike de Leon in his feature film directorial debut, from a screenplay written by Clodualdo del Mundo Jr. and Gil Quito. It stars Tommy Abuel, Mario Montenegro, and Charo Santos in her acting debut, and follows a young photographer who encounters a mysterious woman whilst visiting his father in San Ildefonso during Lent.
Itim addresses the topics of occultism and religion in a "foray into gothic horror, exploring the spiritual nature of life and people in the quiet little town of San Ildefonso". The Association of Filipino Film Critics included the film on their list of the 10 Best Films of the 1970s. The film was digitally restored in 2022, with a subsequent theatrical premiere as part of the Cannes Classics section at the 75th Cannes Film Festival. In a 2022 retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, the film was described as "one of the most remarkable debuts in cinema history".